The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-04-29
NO. 33.

less one that has been let loose for the
purpose. !"
The remark was heard by the per-
former, who, thereupon, brought the
snake close to us, forced his mouth
open with a small stick, and showed
the creatures fangs with their poison
bags at their base Then he extracted
their fangs with pair of pincers which
he drew from the folds of his dress,
threw the snake into one of the baskets,
and then sat down and began to play
again.
''Cobras hunt in couples" said our
host, land where you find one an
other is generally not far away"
Sure enough, in less than a quarter of
an hour, another cobra was caught in
the same way, and the poison fangs
were exhibited and removed. The SER
pent was consigned to the basket with
his mate, and then the man received his
fee and departed.
Naturally, the subject was followed
up in our conversation after the snake
charmer had gone. At a suggestion
from. the host, one of the company gave
the following account of two uncom-
Portable experiences he had had with
these dreaded serpents;
''When 1 first came to India laughed
at the idea of being afraid Of snakes,
and it was only because of the urgent
advice of friends that 1 kept a lamp
burning at night in the sleeping-room
of my bungalow. If it went out was
not particular to call the servant to
have it lighted. The result was that one
morning when / opened my eyes in
broad daylight / saw large cobra lying
coiled on the mat near the door.
Il was frightened and / shouted with
all the force of my lungs. Ididn'tknow
the HindGstani name of the creature, or
rather 1 had forgotten it for the mo-
ment, and so I yelled 'cobrar 'cobrar
Very soon the servants came with sticks
and killed him. He measured nearly
four feet in length and his fangs made
me shudder as l looked at them.
"For months afterward / was careful
to have lights burning in my sleeping
room, but eventually L grew careless
again. One night l awoke and found
the light had gone out. Twas too sleepy
to call for the lascar, and probably did
not remain awake minute.
''But this waking was followed by
disagreeable dreams which seemed to
last for hours, but quite likely they
were of only a few minutes duration
l walked again, and was about to turn
over, when / felt something pressing
against my leg. The moon was shining
into the room, and, as l moved slightly,
/ saw movement near the foot of tho
bed, at che spot where l had felt tho
pressure against me. Besides my paia-
mas, or sleeping-suit, my only covering
was a single sheet of linen, and a very
thin one it was.
"a sense Of great danger came over
me, and without moving my body
slowly raised my head and distinctly
saw in the moonlight the mead of
cobra slowly turning and settling down
after the disturbance caused by my
moving when / walked
ITO say that 1 was seriously fright
ened docs not describe my feelings, as
you can well believe. My flesh was
chilled rs though by a blast from an
iceberg. My blood seemed to cease
flowing, and l could feel my hair rising
upon my head. My first impulse was to
spring from the bed, but fear prevented
me.
BY degrees became sufficiently self
possessed to realize that if / jumped
was not only in danger of being bitten
by the snake that lay against me, but
also by its mate which might be on the
floor exactly in the spot where / should
plant my feet. To call the servant with
the light was my only safety unless
chose to lie still until morning, which
felt / could not do. To remain for
hours in that situation would have
made me a lunatic.
"At the top of my voice / shouted
lascar'
The cobra, disturbed by the noise,
raised its head, but soon settled down
again. The servant did not come, and
as soon as the snake was quiet re-
peated the call, and with the same re-
suit.
"A third time / shouted even louder
than before. This appeal was success
full. My servant answered the call and
came with burning lamp. The cobra
had moved, and with head erect was
looking in the direction Of the APP
preaching footsteps On seeing the
light lie glided down the side Of the
bed, and sought safety beneath It.
II ordered other lamps brought and
several of the servants called toremove
the bed by suddenly dragging it from
its corner. Then with my fowling-
piece / riddled the reptile with shot, and
had him flung outside the bungalow,
where, in the morning, we found and
dispatched his mate.
"If there is any experience Of my life
which / shall never forget, it IL that Of
being in bed with cobra. - Thomas
w. KnOz, IN Youths Companion.